Authentic travel in the Wild West

The chasm of the Grand Canyon, with the Little Colorado River below, is seen in Arizona. File picture: Mike Blake

“Insider experiences” – the things tourists can’t do when travelling on their own – are a key feature of Trafalgar’s 2014 USA and Canada tour offerings.

Trafalgar’s new brochure features 51 trips throughout North America, Mexico and Costa Rica, as well as Hawaii and Alaska. Two new itineraries – the 15-day Best of the West and the 10-day Family Experiences trip, Florida Fun ‘n’ Sun – have been included.

Trafalgar’s newest insider experience, Authentic Accommodations – hotels or state homes that give travellers insight into the destination through their architecture, historical background or location – also features in the brochure.

Theresa Szejwallo, managing director of Trafalgar South Africa, says the company offers 118 insider experiences. “Our guests stay in perfectly located accommodations and have access to Trafalgar’s knowledgeable travel directors and local guides, not to mention the Be My Guest dining experiences, encouraging guests to try regional foods and mingle with locals.”

Trafalgar is offering savings of 10 percent off 2014 USA and Canada guided holidays that are booked and paid for by November 29 this year. Past guests can save up with their additional Frequent Traveller Discount of 5 percent.

The 15-day Best of the West itinerary starts and ends in Los Angeles and travels through California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona.

In Palm Springs, guests start the trip off by tasting a local speciality at a date farm before hopping aboard the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for a ride up the mountain. At the Grand Canyon, a local guide teaches guests about the geologic life of the canyon as they watch the sun set.

Following a trip to Zion National Park and a couple of nights in Las Vegas, travellers head to Death Valley National Park where they’ll jump aboard a hayride under the stars to a barbecue highlight dinner. In San Francisco, travellers visit the iconic Golden Gate Bridge before enjoying a unique insight at the Cable Car Museum. The next day includes sightseeing in the city, and optional trips to Northern California’s Wine Country or the California Academy of Sciences.

As guests arrive in Monterey the following day, they’ll sit down to an exclusive farm-to-table Be My Guest dinner, where they’ll participate in the creation of the meal made from local produce. Before heading to Paso Robles the next morning, guests visit the world renowned Monterey Bay Aquarium. The trip ends with a day in Los Angeles, where they’ll enjoy a city tour before a Farewell Dinner.

The new 10-day Florida Sun ’n’ Fun trip is designed with activities and sightseeing that appeal to all members of the family. Spending three nights each in Miami, Tampa and Orlando, guests also make a stop at the Everglades for a thrilling airboat adventure on glassy waters to spot endangered wildlife.

Guests have plenty of free time to explore the flavourful sights and sounds of Miami, and will get a chance to explore the tastes too, as they sit down for a special Be My Guest dinner at a local restaurant in Little Havana, followed by a dance lesson. In Tampa, families spend a full day at Busch Gardens Theme Park on some of the country’s best roller-coasters and come up close to 2 700 animals on the park’s 335 acres.

As guests head to Orlando the following day, they’ll enjoy a fun pool party at the Omni Orlando Resort where they’ll be resting their heads for the last few nights. The next day is spent at their Orlando theme park of choice: Disney, Universal Studios or Seaworld. For their last day in Florida, families have free time to explore Orlando.